Frank Wcislo

Professor of History and Russian Studies, Emeritus

Frank Wcislo is a historian of modern Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia.  He holds degrees from the University of Michigan (BA 1973, Political Science) and Columbia University (MA, MPhil, PhD 1984, History).  He joined Vanderbilt University in 1984 and became Professor Emeritus of History and Russian Studies in 2021.  He is the author of books, essays, and lectures that study the politics, economy, society, and culture of modern Russia and its revolutionary eras. 

His teaching encompasses a range of courses and subjects at the undergraduate, graduate, and adult education levels.  He created and often directed the three-semester undergraduate Honors Program in Historty.   He has been honored for his teaching and mentoring by A&S, Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt Alumni Association, and Vanderbilt Student Government (VSG). 

In 2006 he became the founding dean of Vanderbilt’s first-year campus, The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons.  He lived there with his family in the Dean’s Residence, 2008-2015, and collaborated with administrators, student affairs professionals, faculty, and especially students to build the foundation of Vanderbilt’s current Residential College system. In 2015 he received The Chancellor’s Cup for encouraging faculty-student relations outside the classroom.